Knock down chair



Jan. 24, 1967 E. R. RUCCHIO 9,399,448

KNOCK DOWN CHAIR' Filed Feb. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967 E. R. RUccl-uo 3,299,448

KNOCK DOWN CHAIR Filed Feb. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EL /ZABETH RUGGH/O 72M ATTOR EY5 United States Patent C) 3,299,448 KNOCK DOWN CHAIR Elizabeth R. Rucchio, 3527 Terrace Drive,

` Arlington, Va. 22003 Filed Feb. 23, 1965. Ser. No. 434,222 9 Claims. (Cl. 5--332) The present invention relates to a chair structure and more particularly to a knock dow-n bed chair structure adapte-d for on the job assembly by nurses and others engaged in the care of invalids and other :bed ridden patients whose prescribed therapy requires them to assume a normal sitting posture for denite periods of time.

In many instances bed patients are required to assume a sitting position to assure near normal circulatory action an-d avoid bed sores, pneumonia, and other uncomfortable and more serious complications resulting from diseases and illnesses requiring long periods of -bedrest or preventing normal ambulatory movement of the patient. Oftentimes the patients are so afflicted or so weakened by their illnesses that they are even incapable of helping their nurse or other attendant in moving them to a sitting position in a chair near the bed or maintaining a sitting position in bed that will provide the proper circulatory therapy. Inother cases, the patients are too weak, too uncoordinated muscularly (spastic), or too arthritic to readily be lifted bodily from the bed to sit in a regular chair or are so temperamentally perverse that they are no sooner lbodily moved and seated than they demand to be returned to bed. In such cases,'the nurse or attendant, often much smaller than the patient, is required to lift the patient bodily to a sitting position in bed and practically carry the patient to a bed side chair, a chore beyond the physical capacity of the nurse or attendant leading to a failure of the patient to receive adequate sitting therapy or falls andserious injury of the patient. The bed chair of the present invention meets these varied conditions by providing a knock down chair structure which may readily be asse-mbledclosely around a patient, moved to a reclining position crosswise of the bed with the lower limb extremities depending over the side, and raised to a sitting position within the chair structure which supports and maintains the patient in a normal sitting position along one edge of the bed.

It, accordingly, is a pri-mary object of the present invention to provide a chair structure consisting of a pair of main mattress gripping arm sections, including upstanding back corner` posts and oppositely laterally directed support portions arranged to grippingly receive a portion of the side edge of a mattress, a back support, a front crossbar support, and keyhole slot type connectors for removablyconnecting the back support and cross-bar support to the respective arm sections.

Another important object of the' present invention resides in utilizing tubular metal, such as stainless steel or polished aluminum, for the ymain structural components of the arm sect-ions and back support to assure maximum strength at mini-mal cost, long trouble free useful life Afor the chair, and to avoid sharp edges and corners that might injure the patient or attendant during assembly of the chair around the patient and in its use, in` event the patient should lean to either side or forward against the main structural components.

A further rimportant object of4 the present invention resides in providing the back corner posts and the vertical front risers of arm sections with respective vertically spaced, protruding, round headed pins or keyhole slots and forming the opposingly related portions of the removably related back support and cross-bar support with key hole slots or headed pins to receive and secure the headed portions of the headed pins in a manner obviating 3,299,448 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 Vice inadvertent disassembly of the chair components due to the weight of the removably associated chair parts and pressure forces imposed by the resting of the patients arms, head and body against and upon the removably associated chair parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the upper edge portions of the cross-bar support with open-ings adapted to removably mount a tray attachment to support ebooks, magazines, games or the like provided to entertain the patients and utensils such as dishes containing the patients meals.

Still other objects will appear from the following description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bed having a bed chair'made in accord with the present invention grippingly assembled on the mattress;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE l showing the bed chair of FIG- URE 1 support-ing a patient in a normal sitting position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred construction for the left arm section of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred construction for the back support of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred construction for the cross-bar support; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a tray attachment adapted for use with the bed chair of the present invention.

With continued reference to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals are employed throughout to indicate the same parts, bed chair 10 of this invention is composed of four basic parts, namely, left and right side arm sections or assemblies 11 and 12, a back support 13, .and a front cross-bar or connector bar 14. Arm sections or assemblies 11 and 12 constitute the major chair components and are identical in construction except that their respective base structures 15 are oppositely directed.

Each arm section or assembly is composed of a pair of suitably bent tubular lengths 16 and 17 of cylindrical metal tubing, one inch stainless steel tubing being preferred for hospital and convalescent home usage to meet sanitation regulations, welded together at points 18 and 19 and permanently attached arm rests 21 of highly polished hardwood or metal similar to that used in the tubing. As best shown in FIGURE 3, each length of tubing 16 is return bent on itself as indicated at 22 to form laterally spaced parallel runs 23 and 24 of successively greater length then formed with successive 90 bends 25 and 26 in the plane dened by runs 23 and 24 to form a coplanar lateral run 27 and a third coplanar parallel run 28 of greatest length, about two feet, extending well beyond return bend 22. Tubing 16 at the end of run 28 remote from bend 26 is then provided with successive sharp bends 29 and 31 at right angles to the plane containing runs 23, 24, 27 and 28 to form an upstanding riser run 32 of predetermined length to be hereinafter pointed out, and a gripper run 33 defining with run 28 a plane at right angles to the plane formed by runs 23, 24, 27 and 28. Tubing 16 at the end of run 33 opposite bend 31 is then provided with a bend 34 forming with run 33 an included angle slightly greater than 90 so that its free end run 35 extends upwardly to form back corner posts lying in the plane dened by runs 28, 32 and 33. The bending of tubing 16 as just described results in a laterally directed base structure composed of runs 23, 24 and 28 and a right angularly related side arm riser structure composed of runs 28, 32, 33 and 35. The distance between runs 28 and 33 of the side arm riser structure is determined by the length of upstanding run 32. In production, the length of run 32 will be -selected to assure a spacing between runs 28 and 33 slightly less than the standard thickness of the bed mattress upon which the chair will be mounted as hereinafter described.

Still referring to FIGURE 3, each length of tubing 17 is bent at 36, approximately at 90, to form a short run 37 and a right angularly related longer run 38 approximately the same length as run 33. This bent tubing structure is fixed in the included angle between runs 33 and 35 by welding the free end of run 37 to the run 33 and the free end of run 38 to run 35 so as to prevent relative shifting of runs 33 and 35 and form a support structure for an end of cross-bar 14 and an associated arm rest 21.

Each arm section or assembly is completed by through drilling the front wall of upstanding run 32 at vertically spaced points near its upper end and iixedly securing by welding or threading the shank of a double headed connector pin 41 in the drilled opening and through key holing the front wall of corner posts 35 at vertically spaced points and to iixedly receive the heads of connector pins 41 fixed to the side margins of `back support 13. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, each double headed connector pin comprises a shank portion 42 cross-sectionally dimensioned to closely tit the key hole :slots provided to receive the shanks, a rst annular enlargement or head portion 43 longitudinally spaced along shank 42 in position to abut the wall of the tubing run or back support 13 with which it is associated, and a second annular enlargement or head portion 44longitudinally spaced a predetermined distance beyond head portion 43. The longitudinal spacing between heads 43 and 44 is selected to closely approximate the thickness of the cross-bar or tubing in which keyhole slots, to be hereinafter described, are provided for ease of assembly.

Cross-bar 14 is a horizontally elongated plate-like member (FIGURE having narrow longitudinally directed ears 45 at its lower corners formed inwardly from their free ends with vertically extending oppositely aligned, inverted, through cut, keyhole slots 46 to dispose their circular entry openings at the lower ends of the slots. The circular entry openings are dimensioned to freely receive heads 44 of connectorl pins 41 fixed to runs 37 of arm assemblies 11 and 12 while the slot portions have a cross-sectional dimension only slightly greater than the shank portion of connector pins 41 lying between pin heads 43 and 44. As a result of this dimensioning, crossbar 14 can be readily assembled on connector pins 41 fixed in runs 37 of the respective arm assemblies and slid downwardly with respect to the connector pins as will be hereinafter pointed out in describing the assembly and use of the chair structure. The spacing between the oppositely aligned keyhole slots 46 of cross-bar 14 is selected to determine the side-by-side spacing of the front ends of side arm assemblies 11 and 12 in use.

Back support 13 preferably comprises a vertically elongated plate-like member having a horizontally concave center portion 4S lying between relatively flat, longitudinally directed marginal portions 49 provided at their back faces with vertically spaced double headed pins 41 arranged to interlockingly engage key hole slots 46 arranged in corner posts 35 with their circular entry openings at the upper ends of the slots for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out. The connector pins 41 are spaced laterally of back support 13 to determine the side-by-side spacing of the rear ends of side arm assemblies 11 and .12 in use.

While the lateral spacing of oppositely aligned slots 46 in cross-bar 14 and pins 41 in back support 13 preferably is selected to assure a parallel relationship of the opposite side arm assemblies 11 and 12, it is within the contemplation of this invention to space the keyhole slots in cross-bar 14 closer together so that the iside arm extensions will converge toward the front and serve to support a patient against forward sliding movement in cases where, due to weakness or lack of muscular coordination, it is difficult for the patient to support himself in a natural sitting position,

ln using the chair the nurse or attendant need only shift the .patient to a sitting position at the side of the bed 51 with the lower limbs depending over the -side and the feet resting on a hassock or like support 52 and to assemble the bed chair around the patient. Assembly of the bed chair is preferably effected after the patient assumes the sitting position supported by the nurse or attendant, who has placed the four chair parts in easy reach, by inserting the base structure 15 of one side arm assembly between the mattress 53 and spring 54 to one side of the patient (FIGURES l and 2) with rum 33 of the side arm assembly overlying and gripping the mattress `between base structure 15 and run 33 and moving the side assembly toward the patient to position base structure 15 directly below the patients buttocks, if necessary tilting t'he patient toone side to accomplish this end, similarly positioning the other side arm assembly in place at the other side of the patient, and placing back support 13 against the patients back and lower shoulders in front of posts and aligning the pin receiving cir-cular openings of the keyhole slots 46 with pin heads 44, and pressing back support -rearwardly and downwardly to engage connector pins 41 in the narrow :portions `of the keyhole slots. The patient is then disposed in a normal sitting position within the chair structure at a minimum expenditure of effort on the part of the patient and the nurse or .attendant and cross-bar. 14 is assembled on Vits connector pins 41 and pressed downwardly to position the connector pins in the upper narrow portions of keyhole slots 46. The vertical spacing of connector pins 41 and the length of the inverted keyhole slots 46 are so related that the lower inclined edge 56 of cross-bar 14 will clear the patients thighs. Since downward force on cross-bar 14 assures the seating of connector .pins 41 in the upper narrow portions of keyhole slots46, there is little, if any, danger that cross-bar 14 will become disassembled as a result of the patient resting his hand-s or arms on the cross-bar or falling forward onto the -cros-bar or a tray attachment carried by the cross-bar. Similarly the downward `forces on the seating area of the mattress dened by the bed chair components caused by the weight of the seated patient forces the mattress and spring to enfold the successive tubular runs of the side arm assembly base structures securely fixing lthe bed `chair against inadvertent slippage should the patient lean forward or to either side.

Should the dimensions of the bed chair be too gene-rous in relation to the patients size the nurse or attendant may place pillows between the patient and the side arm assemblies and back support to assure adequate support of the patient in a sitting position. Since base structures 15 of the side arm assemblies are disposed beneath mattress 53 in line with the patients buttocks, the weight of the patient will be effective to rmly press the mattress down against and around the tubular runs of the base structure fixing the bed chair against inadvertent relative movement with respect to mattress 53 in event the patient falls to either side or forwardly from ia normal sitting position. In an emergency, the patient can be quickly restored to a prone position cross-wise of bed 51merely by supporting the patient in a forward leaning position, .pulling upwardly and forwardly on back support 13 to remove back support 13, and lowering the patients body backwardly onto the bed.

To accommodate a tray attachment 58,.the present. in- Vention contemplates that the cross-bar 14 may be provided with through passages 57 extending from the top to the bottom edges to receive the downward terminal ends (FIGURE 6) of swingable tray support bars 59 journalled in brackets 60 of tray attachment 58 in well known manner.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the 'invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A knock down chair structure adapted for use as a bed chair to support a patient in a normal sitting position comprising a pair of side arm assemblies each having a base structure, integral side arm means to grippingly receive a portion of a mattress therebetween, and upstiand ing front risers and rear corner posts; connector means on said front risers and rear corner posts; a front crossbar adapted by mating connector means at lits opposite ends for removable interlocked connection to the connector means on said front risers; and a back support adapted by mating connector means at its opposite sides for removable interlocked connection to the connector means on said rear corner posts.

2. The knock down chair structure of claim 1 wherein said base structure, said side arm means and said upstanding front risers and :rear corner p-osts comprise respective successive runs of a continuous tubular member, said base structu-re comprising successive terminal runs at one end of said tubular member disposed in side-byside spaced relation in a common plane; said upstanding front risers, said side arm means, and said rear corner posts comprising successive terminal runs at the other end of said tubular member disposed in successive substantially right angular relation in a common plane at right angles -to the plane of said base structure.

3. The knock down chair structure of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprise respective double headed pins having shank portions respectively iixedly secured in spaced relation longitudinally along said front risers with their heads protruding from said f-ront risers and keyhole slots formed in said rear corner posts and wherein said crossbar and back support lcomprise lplate-like members provided in respective spaced relation along their opposite vertical margins with respective through cut key hole slots and double headed pins disposed to receive land interlockingly cooperate with their associated said protruding pin heads and keyhole slots to removably secure said cross-bar and back support to said front risers and rear corner posts.

4. The knock down chair structure of claim 1 wherein said cross-bar inwardly from its opposite ends is provided with through passages extending from one edge to the other edge and forming socket openings to receive the support bars of a tray attachment.

5. The knock down chair structure of claim 2 wherein said opposing side arm gripper means comprises an intermediate run of said continuous tubular member disposed between and in a common plane containing said front riser and said :rear corner post and said respective side arm assemblies have their base structures disposed at opposite sides of their said common planes whereby assembly of said irespective side assemblies will dispose said base structures in reversed side-by-side relation between said side arm assemblies.

6. In combination with a bed structure including a mattress .and mattress supporting spring a bed chair comprising a first and second side arm assembly each including a planaralike base structure disposed between the mattress and spring, a front riser, a side ar-m gripper means and arm support, and a rear corner post respectively engaging an edge of Ithe mattress, overlying the mattress along a side of the patient, and extending upwardly from the mattress inwardly from said mattress edge; connector means on said front risers and said rear corner posts; a back support having mating connector means along its opposite side edges arranged to interlockingly engage the connector means of said corner posts to fixedly connect said pair of side arm assemblies in sidegby-side spaced relation and define with said side arm assemblies a mattress seating area; and a cross-bar having mating connector means along its opposite side edges aranged to interlockingly engage the connector means of said front risers, said back support and said lcross-bar together retaining said base structures beneath the defined mattress seating area whereby the patients weight will be effective to fixedly secure the bed Ichair between the mattress and mattress supporting spring.

7. The combination of claim 6 whe-rein said planarlike lbase structures lcomprise successive parallel runs of a continuous tubular member embedded into the undersurface of the mattress and opposing surface of the spring by the :patients weight.

8. A side arm assembly for use in forming a chair in conjunction with a portion Iof a bed mattress and sul porting spring comprising a base structure of generally planar coniiguration having at one end a riser adapted to engage an edge of the mattress upon insertion of the base structure between the mattress and spring; a side assembly of generally planar configuration disposed at right angles to said base structure in vertically spaced relation to one side edge of said base structure to define with said base structure and riser a rearwardly opening passage adapted to receive a portion of the mattress upon insertion of the base structure between the mattress and spring, said side assembly providing an arm rest; an upstanding corner post at the end of said side Iassembly remote from said riser; and `respective vertically spaced connector means fixed to the front edges of said arm rest and corner post adapting said side arm assembly to support 'a back support and front cross-bar when associated with a second side arm assembly.

9. The side arm assembly of claim 8 wherein said base, riser, corner post, and a portion of said side assembly comprise successive runs of a continuous tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1957 Locke 5-332 9/1958 Cowell 5-332 X 

1. A KNOCK DOWN CHAIR STRUCTURE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A BED CHAIR TO SUPPORT A PATIENT IN A NORMAL SITTING POSITION COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE ARM ASSEMBLIES EACH HAVING A BASE STRUCTURE, INTEGRAL SIDE ARM MEANS TO GRIPPINGLY RECEIVE A PORTION OF A MATTRESS THEREBETWEEN, AND UPSTANDING FRONT RISERS AND REAR CORNER POSTS; CONNECTOR MEANS ON SAID FRONT RISERS AND REAR CORNER POSTS; A FRONT CROSSBAR ADAPTED BY MATING CONNECTOR MEANS AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS FOR REMOVABLE INTERLOCKED CONNECTION TO THE CONNECTOR MEANS ON SAID FRONT RISERS; AND A BACK SUPPORT ADAPTED BY MATING CONNECTOR MEANS AT ITS OPPOSITE SIDES FOR REMOVABLE INTERLOCKED CONNECTION TO THE CONNECTOR MEANS ON SAID REAR CORNER POSTS. 